Coinciding with New Haven Pride events, Mpowerment New Haven in combination with Yale School of Medicine OutPatient and funding from the Yale DICE office present a free screening of “Crystal City” Friday September 20th 6-8pm in the Mary S. Harkness Auditorium, 333 Cedar St, New Haven CT. The event includes a free non-pizza dinner as well as a post film discussion with Director Terrence Crawford and local experts Rich Radocchia, LCSW and Dr. A.C. Demidont, DO, AAHIVS. The film, set in NYC, addresses the growing crystal meth/chemsex epidemic in gay men. See below for plot summary and awards:
“Some call the 21st century the post-AIDS years, thanks to activism and new medications. New York and other centers of gay life have new generations of LGBTQ people who feel free and safe. Over the years, however, another ravaging threat has continued to rise: crystal meth, a synthetic drug that found quick and willing harbor in the gay dance and sex club scene. Delivering a manic rush to intensify physical and sexual activity, addiction is almost instantaneous. This frightening but hopeful documentary explores the myriad causes and effects of crystal meth addiction, charting the long (and sometimes agonizing) path to recovery. The stories bravely told by these men, either recovering or currently using, are raw, shocking, and honest. Both a warning siren and a beacon of hope, Crystal City focuses on LGBTQ people even though this crisis touches everyone. After surviving AIDS as a powerful and joyful culture, the gay community must once again unite against a new killer.”
AWARDS:
-Cleveland International Film Festival 2019 Nominee: Global Health Competition
Best Film Terrence Crawford
-The New Jersey Recovery Film Festival 2019
Winner: Best Picture Terrence Crawford
Winner: Best Editing Terrence Crawford
Trigger Warning: This film depicts IV drug use